Luxury Watch Brands Announce Management Changes
Appointments Include CEOs, Managing Directors
By William George Shuster, Senior Editor -- JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone, 12/1/2005
It’s been a busy half-year for the watch business, as several luxury brands announced management changes and appointments, including these:
• Juan-Carlos Torresis the new chief executive officer of luxury watch brand Vacheron Constantin, celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. He replaces his boss Claude-Daniel Proellochs, who retired. Torres, with Vacheron Constantin since 1981, was formerly deputy chief executive (2002) and finance and manufacturing director (2000).
• Harry Winston Inc. has named Hamdi Chattias the new man- aging director of Harry Winston Rare Timepieces, and Gilles Haumontin the new post of managing director of international sales of watches and jewelry. Chatti replaces Maximilian Busser, managing director of Harry Winston Rare Timepieces since late 1998, who left to set up his own watch company. Chatti was formerly managing director of Montblanc Timepieces, where he oversaw integration of Montblanc’s design and technical departments and introduced a new product portfolio. Earlier, he was Piaget’s technical and quality director. Haumont is in charge of retail and wholesale sales for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia (excluding Japan). He’s also based in Geneva. Prior to Harry Winston, Haumont was worldwide commercial director for Boucheron (in the Gucci Group) and international retail director for Cartier.
• Philippe Belais is the new president and chief executive officer of the upscale Swiss brand Bertolucci. He replaces Marc Bernardt, who left Aug. 31. Berlais has 15 years’ experience in luxury watches, including stints with Lanceland Dunhill. He previously was managing director of Van Cleef & Arpels watches.
• Rodolfo Chavez is the new president of Baume & Mercier North America, which distributes the Swiss luxury watch brand. He has been vice president of sales since 2002. He replaces Edward Wright, who was appointed senior vice president of retail for Cartier North America. Both are part of the Richemont Group. Chavez joined Baume & Mercier in 1998 and was previously vice president of sales.
